German Beer Styles:Münchner Helles

The first golden lagers were brewed in Plzen, Bohemia, in the 1840s, but the
golden lager style spread rapidly worldwide and gave rise to different styles,
including Helles (pronounced Hell-es), which is German for "bright".
Helles was a response to the incredible popularity of the Pils style beers, and
the fears of Munich (München) brewers that they would lose sales as
drinkers switched to pale beers brewed elsewhere. Munich brewers started brewing
Helles in the 1890s. The water in and around Munich has high levels of
carbonates, causing hoppy beers to taste excessively harsh and bitter. As a
result, Munich beers tend to be maltier than those found elsewhere, and this is
evident in the taste of Helles. Pilsner-type beers brewed around Munich also
have more sweet maltiness, and some are closer to a Helles style, though
labelled as a Pils -- Kaiserdom Pils is a good example.

Helles lagers are distinctive from Pilsners in that they have a noticeable
malt sweetness, with a delicate balance of spicy hops, but much less bitter than
a Pilsner. Though they are served cool, there is a delicious, comforting, soft
warmth in the malty flavour.